The Right Brass for the Right Brew: Choosing Your Coffee Machine

A coffee machine allows you to enjoy and even customise a fresh brew at your convenience without having to wait in line or deal with crowds at your favourite coffee shop. Depending on the kind of machine, coffee machines can help you make various kinds of brews, such as lattes, cappuccinos, and espressos. Additionally, if you like experimenting with your cup of joe, you can even get to sample various flavours like cinnamon, ginger or cloves infused within your coffee.

Although the type of coffee, water and grind used are all very important factors in brewing great coffee, a good coffee machine can make all the difference in the quality of coffee you brew.

What to Consider When You Choose a Coffee Machine

With so many options to choose from in the market, it may help narrow the field to figure out what you prioritise the most in your coffee making experience. From there, you will be able to identify the perfect coffee maker that best suits your needs. To get started, consider the following questions:

• What kind of coffee do you prefer?

• What is the quantity of coffee you intend to brew?

• What is your budget?

• How big is your counter space?

Here are a few different things to take into account when creating your short list of potential coffee machines.

• Custom Brewing Options: The most basic machines have virtually no options aside from adding more or fewer coffee grounds or water. On the other hand, more sophisticated machines let you choose water temperature, brew strength, and a wide variety of brew sizes. In general, simple machines are less expensive and likely easier to use, especially for beginner brewers.

• Brew Size: Whether it’s brewing a single cup or a family-sized carafe, there are coffee machines that can brew just the amount you need. Some machines offer an extensive range of brew sizes, while others are limited to a much narrower range of options. Single-cup brewers are great for people who live alone or where each person prefers a different flavour or style of coffee. Brewers that make larger quantities are great for people who enjoy lots of coffee, and for family breakfasts, brunch with friends, or large parties.

• Extra Features: Some machines go beyond brewing options, and include setting options for programmed brewing at a specific time, keep-warm or auto-shutoff, or a thermal carafe to keep the coffee warm. Others set off audible alerts when the coffee has finished brewing, and most of the electric models have lights that signify when the brewer is on or when the coffee is done. Higher end machines come with features like milk frothing, bean grinding, and notifications for when the machine needs to be cleaned. Espresso machines and hybrid coffee brewers tend to offer the most options, but they are also the most costly.

Cleaning and Preventative Maintenance

How do you maintain coffee equipment?

Here are five quick tips to maintaining your coffee machines.

At Six Four Coffee, we are committed to delivering the freshest quality coffee beans. From coffee equipment to freshly roasted coffee beans, we've got you covered. Find out more about our products or shop them here.